Mumbai, February 24 Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) halt all private construction activities in the city for at least a week, amid rising air pollution levels and visible haze.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhan Bhavan, Thackeray said that he has consistently raised environmental concerns and highlighted the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.
"The BMC should temporarily halt all private construction activities for at least a week to control dust emissions. A proper construction management schedule should be prepared. They should strictly implement anti-pollution measures. Only then should construction work be allowed to resume," he said.
The civic body, he claimed, was still not taking the situation seriously.
Emphasising strict enforcement of existing norms, Thackeray said that the authorities appeared indifferent to the health of citizens.
In a post on X, Thackeray criticized the civic administration, saying, "If the polluted air that Mumbaikars are breathing doesn't bother you, just imagine that a VIP is coming to the city for a week."
The Opposition MLA also said he had written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an investigation into alleged cruelty at an animal shelter in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
"An incident of cruel treatment of stray dogs has been reported. I request you to investigate the matter and arrest the culprits. The organization receives funds from foreign countries, so its license should be cancelled," he said in a separate post.